In a sudden announcement that has stunned municipal law experts and city hall officials alike, Jim Karygiannis was removed from office after violating campaign finance rules, the city clerk announced late Wednesday afternoon.Karygiannis, who up until Wednesday represented Ward 22 (Scarborough-Agincourt), was given notice he would forfeit the office after he overspent an expense limit for “parties and other expressions of appreciation” by nearly $26,000, a statement from clerk Ulli Watkiss said.The decision comes after Karygiannis filed a supplementary financial statement with the city’s elections office at 11:24 a.m. on Oct. 28 — just hours before the 2 p.m. deadline for filing additional statements — which contained information showing Karygiannis violated Municipal Election Act rules, the clerk said. “The Act does not give the City Clerk any latitude or discretion on this matter,” Watkiss said in the statement sent by the city, saying “forfeiture of office” is automatic if a candidate exceeds the amount allowed for that limit.“Mr. Karygiannis is in default of the Act and is disqualified from being elected or appointed to any office until after the 2022 municipal election.”Karygiannis told the Star he would fight his ouster when reached by phone Wednesday.“There was a clerical error that was a mistake,” he said. “Something was filed in the wrong column and we’re fighting it and there’s going to be a statement that we’ll be sending out.”A later statement said he was in contact with his lawyer and auditor “in order to correct the error.”The issue appears to hinge on a dinner Karygiannis held after the election was over.A review of Karygiannis’ financial statements posted to the city’s elections website shows that he claimed a $27,083.50 expense — which would be largely responsible for the over-expenditure cited by the clerk ...
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